Systems and methods for video-rich navigation
View Patent ↗Methods and systems are disclosed that provide a user with efficient video-rich navigation (VRN) of media assets in an interactive media guidance application, such as an interactive program guide. A user can select a displayed video asset and perform an action on the selectable video asset, for example, using a remote control. The manner in which the video assets are displayed and the actions enabled for the particular video assets are defined by screen data transmitted to the user equipment in a VRN data feed.
1. A method for providing a video-rich navigation interface, comprising:
receiving, with a client, a plurality of video feeds, wherein each of the plurality of video feeds comprises a respective plurality of full-motion video assets, at least one of the respective plurality of full-motion video assets comprising a video being broadcast on a broadcast channel, wherein the full-motion video assets of the respective plurality of full-motion video assets are simultaneously received;
receiving, with the client, screen data for the plurality of video feeds, wherein the screen data define:
a first full-motion video asset of a first video feed of the plurality of video feeds as selectable by a user, and
an action to be performed in response to a selection from the user of the first full-motion video asset that belongs to a first category, and wherein:
the plurality of video feeds, the screen data, and a plurality of interactive displays for the plurality of video feeds generated based on the screen data collectively form an application, and
the action comprises accessing a second video feed of the plurality of video feeds; and
generating an interactive display for the second feed based on the screen data;
generating, with the client, a first interactive display of the plurality of interactive displays, wherein the first interactive display comprises a display of a menu option that represents a second category and a display of the respective plurality of full-motion video assets of the first video feed comprising the first full-motion video asset that belongs to the first category; and
in response to receiving a selection from the user of the menu option that represents the second category, changing the displayed first full-motion video asset that belongs to the first category to a second full-motion video asset that belongs to the second category while maintaining the display of the menu option in the first interactive display;
receiving, with the client, a selection from the user of the displayed first full-motion video asset; and
in response to the user selection of the displayed first full-motion video asset:
accessing the second video feed and the screen data; and
generating a second interactive display displaying at least one selectable full-motion video asset of the second video feed in a position in the second interactive display determined by the screen data.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the respective plurality of full-motion video assets of the plurality of video feeds is selected from a live broadcast program, a VOD asset, a PPV asset, a DVR asset, a Webcast, a preview, and an advertisement.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one video feed of the plurality of video feeds comprises one or more analog channels, one or more digital channels, or a combination thereof.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the screen data define a layout of an interactive display for each of the plurality of video feeds.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the first interactive display is a Home Page and the displayed first full-motion video asset is highlighted by default in the first interactive display.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the action includes switching to the second interactive display having screen elements adapted to display the first full-motion video asset or another selectable video asset.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the screen data are received as binary data.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, with the client, a plurality of templates, wherein:
each of the plurality of templates has a template ID and defines a layout for an interactive display of the plurality of interactive displays,
the screen data include a template ID of a template of the plurality of templates; and
generating the first interactive display comprises displaying the first full-motion video asset with the template having the template ID included in the screen data.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the user initiates the action by activating a key on a remote control device.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the key to be activated for initiating the action is defined by the screen data.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the screen data includes control data defining a time or a geographic location limitation, wherein the control data define if the first full-motion video asset is displayed, is user-selectable, or both.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the screen data are logically organized into a plurality of chunks, wherein different chunks of the plurality of chunks are associated with different sets of video or non-video assets.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the screen data are logically organized into a plurality of chunks, wherein at least one of the plurality of chunks defines global resources for an interactive display of the plurality of interactive displays.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the screen data are logically organized into a plurality of chunks, wherein at least one of the plurality of chunks defines resources for an interactive display, of the plurality of interactive displays, that changes over a defined period of time.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one video feed of the plurality of video feeds is associated with a plurality of regions in each interactive display of the plurality of interactive displays, and
each of the respective plurality of full-motion video assets of the plurality of video feeds corresponds to a different region in the each interactive display.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the screen data for the plurality of video feeds are received by the client in a combined data feed that is organized into a plurality of chunks.
17. A method for providing a video-rich navigation interface, comprising:
receiving, with a client, a plurality of video feeds, wherein each of the plurality of video feeds comprises a respective plurality of full-motion video assets, at least one of the respective plurality of full-motion video assets comprising a video being broadcast on a broadcast channel,
defining a plurality of regions on a display, with each of the plurality regions being a different video asset, and wherein the full-motion video assets of the respective plurality of full-motion video assets are simultaneously received;
receiving, with the client, screen data for the plurality of video feeds, wherein the screen data define:
a first full-motion video asset of a first video feed of the plurality of video feeds as selectable by a user, and
an action to be performed in response to a selection from the user of the first full-motion video asset that belongs to a first category, and wherein:
the plurality of video feeds, the screen data, and a plurality of interactive displays for the plurality of video feeds generated based on the screen data collectively form an application, and
the action comprises accessing a second video feed of the plurality of video feeds; and
generating an interactive display for the second feed based on the screen data;
retrieving non-video assets stored in the client according to the screen data;
generating, with the non-video assets and the received respective full-motion video assets of the plurality of video feeds, a first interactive display of the plurality of interactive displays, wherein the first interactive display comprises a display of a menu option that represents a second category and a display of the respective plurality of full-motion video assets of the first video feed comprising the first full-motion video asset that belongs to the first category; and
in response to receiving a selection from the user of the menu option that represents the second category, changing the displayed first full-motion video asset that belongs to the first category to a second full-motion video asset that belongs to the second category while maintaining the display of the menu option in the first interactive display;
receiving, with the client, a selection from the user of the displayed first full-motion video asset; and
in response to the user selection of the first full-motion video asset:
accessing the second video feed and the screen data; and
generating a second interactive display displaying at least one selectable full-motion video asset of the second video feed in a position in the second interactive display determined by the screen data.
18. A system for providing a video-rich navigation interface, comprising a user equipment configured to:
receive a plurality of video feeds, wherein each of the plurality of video feeds comprises a respective plurality of full-motion video assets, at least one of the respective plurality of full-motion video assets comprising a video being broadcast on a broadcast channel, wherein the full-motion video assets of the respective plurality of full-motion video assets are simultaneously received;
receive screen data for the plurality of video feeds, wherein the screen data define:
a first full-motion video asset of a first video feed of the plurality of video feeds as selectable by a user, and
an action to be performed in response to the user selection of the first full-motion video asset that belongs to a first category, and wherein:
the plurality of video feeds, the screen data, and a plurality of interactive displays the plurality of video feeds generated based on the screen data collectively form an application; and
the action comprises accessing a second video feed of the plurality of video feeds; and
generate an interactive display for the second feed based on the screen data;
generate a first interactive display of the plurality of interactive displays, wherein the first interactive display comprises a display of a menu option that represents a second category and a display of the respective plurality of full-motion video assets of the first video feed comprising the first full-motion video asset that belongs to the first category; and
in response to receiving a selection from the user of the menu option that represents the second category, change the displayed first full-motion video asset that belongs to the first category to a second full-motion video asset that belongs to the second category while maintaining the display of the menu option in the first interactive display;
receive a selection from the user of the displayed first full-motion video asset; and
in response to the user selection of the displayed first full-motion video asset:
access the second video feed and the screen data; and
generate a second interactive display displaying at least one selectable full-motion video asset of the second video feed in a position in the display determined by the screen data.
19. The system of claim 18 , wherein each of the respective plurality of full-motion video assets is selected from a live broadcast program, a VOD asset, a PPV asset, a DVR asset, a Webcast, a preview, and an advertisement.
20. The system of claim 18 , wherein at least one video feed of the plurality of video feeds comprises one or more analog channels, one or more digital channels, or a combination thereof.
21. The system of claim 18 , wherein the screen data comprise binary data.
22. The system of claim 18 , wherein the screen data define a layout of an interactive display of the plurality of interactive displays.
23. The system of claim 18 , wherein at least a portion of the screen data includes control data defining a time or a geographic location limitation, wherein the control data define if the first full-motion video asset is displayed, is user-selectable, or both.
24. The system of claim 18 , wherein the screen data are logically organized into a plurality of chunks, wherein different chunks of the plurality of chunks are associated with different sets of video or non-video assets.
25. The system of claim 18 , wherein the screen data are logically organized into a plurality of chunks, wherein at least one of the plurality of chunks defines global resources for an interactive display of the plurality of interactive displays.
26. The system of claim 18 , wherein the screen data are logically organized into a plurality of chunks, wherein at least one of the plurality of chunks defines resources for an interactive display, of the plurality of interactive displays, that changes over a defined period of time.
27. The system of claim 18 , wherein at least one video feed of the plurality of video feeds is associated with a plurality of regions in each interactive display of the plurality of interactive displays, and
each of the respective plurality of full-motion video assets of the plurality of video feeds is a different region in the each interactive display.
28. A system for providing a video-rich navigation (VRN) application, comprising:
a content source configured to combine a plurality of full-motion video assets, at least one of the full-motion video assets comprising a video being broadcast on a broadcast channel, into a first video feed of a plurality of video feeds;
a VRN screen data source configured to:
deliver screen data for the plurality of video feeds to a user equipment, wherein the screen data define:
a first full-motion video asset of the first video feed of the plurality of video feeds as selectable by a user of the user equipment, and
an action to be performed in response to a selection from the user of the first full-motion video asset that belongs to a first category, wherein:
the plurality of video feeds, the screen data, and a plurality of interactive displays for the plurality of video feeds generated based on the screen data collectively form an application, and
the action comprises accessing a second video feed of the plurality of video feeds; and wherein the user equipment is configured to:
generate a first interactive display of the plurality of interactive displays, wherein the first interactive display comprises a display of a menu option that represents a second category and a display of the full-motion video assets comprising the first full-motion video asset that belongs to the first category, and
in response to receiving a selection from the user of the menu option that represents the second category, change the displayed first full-motion video asset to a second full-motion video asset that belongs to the second category while maintaining the display of the selected menu option in the first interactive display;
receive a selection from the user of the displayed first full-motion video asset; and
in response to the user selection:
access the second video feed and the screen data; and
generate a second interactive display displaying at least one selectable full-motion video asset of the second video feed in a position in the second interactive display determined by the screen data.